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Laser transmutation of iodine-129

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Abstract

We report the first successful laser-induced transmutation of 129I, one of the key radionuclides in the nuclear fuel cycle. 129I with a half-life of 15.7 million years is transmuted into 128I with a half-life of 25 min through a (γ, n) reaction using laser-generated Bremsstrahlung. The integral cross-section value for the (γ, n) reaction is determined. These experiments offer a new approach to studying transmutation reactions with neutral and charged particles without resource to nuclear reactors or particle accelerators.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Transuranium Elements, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Postfach 2340, 76125, Karlsruhe, Germany

    J. Magill, J. Galy & R. Schenkel

  2. Institut für Optik und Quantenelektronik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743, Jena, Germany

    H. Schwoerer, F. Ewald & R. Sauerbrey

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  1. J. Magill
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  2. H. Schwoerer
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  3. F. Ewald
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  4. J. Galy
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  5. R. Schenkel
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  6. R. Sauerbrey
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Correspondence to H. Schwoerer.

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PACS

52.38.Ph; 25.20.Lj

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Magill, J., Schwoerer, H., Ewald, F. et al. Laser transmutation of iodine-129. Appl. Phys. B 77, 387–390 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-003-1306-4

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